Other Ecclesiastical Collections in Rome 
197 
direction of the papal agent. 5 Some few of those consigned to destruction 
escaped and are found in Paris, and some are at Trinity College, Dublin. 6 
There remain, however, over 7000 volumes, extending from the middle of the 
sixteenth century to the present day, 7 in the palace of the Inquisition, on the 
Via Santo Uffizio. They are entirely inaccessible at present. 8 
Consistorialis. 
The primary and obvious purpose of this congregation was to prepare mate¬ 
rial for presentation before the consistories of the Sacred College. It ac¬ 
quired control also of the granting of certain honors of an ecclesiastical char¬ 
acter, such as the pallium. I know nothing of its archives, if there be any, 
other than those in the Archivio Consistoriale, but they would scarcely be 
likely to contain anything of importance for American history, as the prelim¬ 
inary steps in the case of American dioceses were, until Nov. 1, 1908, in the 
hands of the Propaganda instead of this congregation. 
For the future, however, its archives will be important, not only because all 
American episcopal nominations will pass through its hands, but because its 
functions have been extended in number as well as in territorial application. 
It seems destined, in fact, to become the chief of all the congregations. It has 
the power, in cases of conflict of jurisdiction, of determining the competency 
of the several congregations; and has had transferred to it certain duties pre¬ 
viously exercised by the congregations of Bishops and of the Council. It will 
have the examination of the relations of dioceses sent by the bishops, and, after 
consultation with the Pope, its prefect, the preparation of measures called 
for by these reports. It will have charge of all that pertains to the govern¬ 
ment, discipline, and studies of seminaries. In personnel it is closely joined 
with the Congregation of the Holy Office and the secretariate of state. 
Visitationis Apostolicae. 
The functions of this congregation were local to the diocese of Rome, and 
have been now transferred to a commission. 
Episcoporum et Regularium. 
This congregation has been for many years the most active in the Curia. 
In the first place it acted as a tribunal for the settlement of causes arising be¬ 
tween bishops and the regulars of their dioceses. The conflicts between these 
have been innumerable and universal, and have made this congregation one of 
the greatest judicial tribunals of the Church. In addition, a still greater por¬ 
tion of its attention was devoted to the second branch of its activity, the super¬ 
vision of regulars, including the examination and approval of all propositions 
for new institutions, of their constitutions and rules, and of all changes in the 
same. By the recent constitutions this congregation has been abrogated. In 
its place has been established the congregation “ Negotiis Religiosorum So- 
dalium ”, which takes over its work of supervision, including the judging of 
cases of discipline. The remainder, and by far the more important portion 
of its judicial authority, goes to the Rota. The archives of this congregation 
5 Delisle, “Les Archives Pontificales ”, in Journal des Savants, 1892, p. 432. The agent 
received 4300 francs from the paper-maker who boiled them down. 
6 C. Corvisieri, “ Compendio dei Processi del Santo Uffizio di Roma ”, in Arch, della 
Soc. Rom. di Stor. Pat., III. 263-267. 
7 Hinojosa, Los Despachos, p. liii. 
8 Copies of particular documents might possibly be obtained. 
